Night Sweats - Saint Louis,MO

Updated on January 12, 2009
J.P. asks from Saint Louis, MO
14 answers

Okay ladies - I need some help/advice. I have been waking up nightly (sometimes more than once) drenched in sweat. I heard this happens after you give birth - but my son is over 8 months old!!! Is this normal? I've tried no pajamas, fewer covers - nothing helps. I've had trouble losing the baby weight, but I've started weight watchers and am working on that. What is causing this and is there any relief in sight? Thanks so much for your help.

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B.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Are you losing weight? After I had my baby, I seriously lost 35 pounds within 3 weeks! I think I sweated it all out in my bed! I would wake up drenched! Wow thats pretty gross to read! Thats all I got!

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A.S.

answers from Kansas City on

It's probably hormone related. I had nightsweats after our daughter was born, then I also started getting them before my period would start, then I got them almost nightly when I found out I was pregnant again.

Have you started your period again since giving birth? If not, it might be on it's way to coming back. Also, if you've started to lose weight it could also be affecting your hormones.

I tried adding soy to my diet to get rid of the sweats and it did help, but didn't get rid of them entirely. I just had 1 glass of soymilk with breakfast each day.

Lastly, you might want to bring this up with your doctor, just in case. Nightsweats could also indicate a thyroid problem.

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M.G.

answers from Kansas City on

J., It is hormones! That's what happens in Menopause and Peri-Menopause, it can also happen when your body is adjusting after giving birth. Maybe your body is just taking longer.

M.

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R.M.

answers from Topeka on

As the other two have already said...this is probably hormonal in nature. Either because you are about to start your periods again...or it could be a thyroid condition. I would definitely mention it to my doctor...it might even merit a call..instead of waiting for your next physical. If it is thyroid..it is easily regulated...I myself am on thyroid medication and will be for the rest of my life. It's very common...and truly no big deal after they get it regulated.
If it is your thyroid it can throw everything off kilter.... the thyroid regulates so many things...sleep, heart rate, digestion, that is why I would suggest going on in and having the simple blood test done to find out.
Good luck...enjoy that wonderful baby of yours!!!
R. Ann

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A.D.

answers from Kansas City on

J.,
Certainly see your doctor. It could be a number of things, and most likely, it's simply your hormones trying to regulate, but it's best to get it checked out.
Are you still nursing? Did you stop recently? Any heart palpitations? Anxiety? Depression? Insomnia? Do you feel hot or cold during the day?
These different things can point to thyroid imbalance.
Good luck!
A.

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K.B.

answers from Wichita on

Good Morning J., I agree with the other Mama's here to have it checked by your Dr. I had Hysti in 87 and I had night sweats for only a short time. Everything was removed (not do to cancer though)I was on Hormones for several yrs. Pills made me sick so tried patches, then I went to self injections once a month. That was a Great way to clear the house if I wanted Alone time..lol Hubby & Son's took off to parts unknown!! Didn't want to see any needles anywhere around them. Nor did they want to see one poked in my thigh. Man I could really milk that one..*laughing*

I don't take anything now, except Vitamin B Complex etc. and never have hot flashes or night sweats on a reg basis. Can't even remember the last time I did. One thing I do is keep at least one foot uncovered. I know it sounds weird, but if I get to hot this takes care of it.

I would imagine yours are hormone related also, but please to be on the side of caution have it check by your Dr.

God Bless J.,
K. Nana of 5

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D.L.

answers from Kansas City on

Not to freak anyone out, but I havent' seen this cause of night sweats listed yet. It is a major symptom of Leukemia. I was dx with acute leukemia 4 1/2 months after my son was born. Not saying this is what you have, but I would definitely mention this to your doctor and have some bloodwork done to cover your bases. good luck.

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D.K.

answers from Kansas City on

Most likely, it's just your hormones trying to get back to normal. If you take antidepressants, that could be a side effect. I think zoloft is the worst. It took me about 9 months to get over the night sweats.

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T.W.

answers from Kansas City on

Talk to your doctor about these night sweats. There could be a multiple of causes for them.

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L.A.

answers from Wichita on

It could be hormones, but it could be your thyroid. Call your doctor. they can do a blood test to make sure your thyroid level is ok.

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K.L.

answers from St. Louis on

There are a number of reasons that people experience functional hormone imbalances. Although you may wish to see your MD first, it is possible the only options you will receive there is to take synthetic hormones or some other prescribed medication. The diet option is less likely to offer you unpleasant side effects and more likely to address the real cause of the hormone imbalance rather than just alleviating the symptoms of it.
However, I wouldn't put my best hope for this result in the weight watchers diet. You can consult a good chiropractor or nutritionist for a more customized diet for your needs, which may include thyroid support. If you wish to customize your own diet plan, I highly recommend the book, Live Right 4 Your Type. This is the most scientific approach to a diet I have ever found. I put off getting the book for years because my husband and I are different blood types and need different diets. Owning my own business and tons of studies kept me from wanting to give so much attention to planning meals. But, night sweats, high blood pressure, digestive difficulties, inflammatory disorders, fatigue, and finally a blood clot changed my priorities.
Learning to avoid the foods my blood type does not metabolize well changed my world!!! The night sweats stopped almost immediately. Within a few days I felt remarkably different. After a few weeks, I had energy I didn't dream possible again. I cannot over emphasize the importance of knowing what foods are right for your blood type! It has never been easy for me to lose weight, until I started eating right for my type!
A friend who used this diet to improve her health taught me a few tricks to make this change easier for me. She pointed out that keeping the diet strictly for whole days at a time has a tremendous therapeutic effect. She said she would shop and cook on the weekend and plan out 3 consecutive days of keeping the diet strictly. It felt so good to eat the right foods, she naturally developed a preference for the foods that supported her. The other 4 days, she naturally stayed close to the diet, but allowed herself freedom to stray a bit. She lost weight easily and her health improved greatly with this moderate approach.
I found that it is good to stick with the diet fairly strictly for the first few weeks. There are some foods I ate regularly in my childhood that are on my avoid list. But, it is possible that my body learned to metabolize foods that I ate regularly as a child. So, after a few weeks of staying mostly with the diet, you can try adding those foods one at a time to see if any of them cause an adverse affect. In this way you may be able to expand your own list of available foods.
The only other thing that I added to this diet is a natural supplement to support thyroid function. I get it from Young Living Essential Oils, because I know their supplements are very high quality. So, I am feeling better, functioning better, free of night sweats, and I'm told I'm looking better too, and, all without any medications! Getting that book was like getting the owner's manual for my body!

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A.W.

answers from St. Louis on

CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!! There are many things that can be wrong including all that are listed here and more. Put your mind at ease and get yourself checked out!!!

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M.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi J.. Glad to hear it isn't just me.

I'm mom to a 7 mon. old and I still have night sweats at least a couple times a week myself. It seems to have gotten less frequent since I've started supplementing my daughter with formula and weaning from breastfeeding--even though that had nothing to do with why I weaned. Also, I find that cotton PJs help alot and I don't get as drenched as if I wear polyester or nylon. It is uncomfortable and unpleasant, so I'm glad to hear from those with older kids that it stops after awhile!

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K.C.

answers from La Crosse on

It is likely the hormones. Which for you is most likely due to having given birth somewhat recently. Are you breast feeding? The hormones from this may be keeping this going. I personally have recently found out that I have polycystic ovary disorder, which has my hormones off, thus why I get night sweats. My daughter is almost five, so I knew it wasn't from giving birth. If it is really bothersome and even if not, you may want to contact your doctor to ask about it.

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